"The truth on’t is, Master Harry, I be a-thinken o’ old gaffer at home. He’s had a deal of trouble wi’ maids and housekeepers; can’t get ne’er a one to cook his bacon to his mind, and besides has a sweet tooth for griddle-cakes. Katrinka be a rare buxom wench; not a beauty, sure, though handsome is as handsome doos; and when I found out her tidy ways and light hand wi’ the kickshawses—well, says I, she be the right maid to keep old feyther o’ mine above-ground for another ten year." "Oh! and have you put the matter to Katrinka?" "There’s the rub, sir. Her be in the main willen, but there’s a worm in th’ apple. The truth on’t is, sir, her have high notions." "Indeed! She wants to be something better than a nurse-cook, eh?" "Not zackly that, sir; her notions be husband high, sir; her won’t make griddle-cakes for feyther o’ mine not unless her be his darter, which is a backward way o’ sayen, marry me." "That’s terrible, Sherry." "It med be wuss, Master Harry. I ha’n’t no fears myself, but ’tis old feyther I be thinken on. ’Ee see, I’m his boy; though I be forty-five by nature, to his old aged life I be but a younker yet; and I be afeard he’d think me a forrard youth did I venture a word about marryen." Harry laughed outright. "Take my advice, Sherry," he said. "If Katrinka’s a good girl, get the knot tied; we sha’n’t be home again for a year at least; you can break it gently to the old man, and sing the praises of your wife in respect of bacon and girdle-cakes and other housewifely virtues." "Thank ’ee, sir; and ’ee won’t mind if I be a bit late back, ’cos ’twill take a good time to talk over all that wi’ Katrinka; her be terrible slow wi’ her mind, sir." "All right! Get along; and you may give her a kiss from me. ’Tis the chubby one, isn’t it?" "True, sir; a apple face, wi’ a dimple in the chin, and eyes as blue as her chiney, and hair this side o’ red, and——" "There, there. You’re in a bad way, Sherry; go and get it over, man." Not long after Sherebiah’s departure, Fanshawe came in. "What do you think?" shouted Harry. "That old oddity Sherry is in love with Katrinka, one of the maids at Lindendaal, but was afraid to pop the question lest his father thought him too young. He has gone over to Lindendaal to-day; I fancy ’twill be a settled thing by the time he returns." "Oh!" Fanshawe appeared somewhat constrained. "The fact is, Harry, I am riding to Lindendaal myself, and I came to see—to ask—that is, have you any message for the ladies?" "No; as it happens, Sherry is taking them a parcel from Mynheer Grootz.—You’ve got a new coat, surely?" "Ay; you see my old one was faded; things bleach soon in this country——" "And a new hat, I declare!" "The old one was too vexatious shabby. Then you have no message?"